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Sat Apr 11, 2009 12:26 am

I pulled my 63 Beetle out of winter storage and I'm considering installing a head temp gauge or oil temp gauge. The car is still 6V. This is my daily driver in the warmer months, and I'd like to keep track of how hot I'm running. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Sat Apr 11, 2009 2:27 am

you can find them, maybe not new but they are out there.

these are for my project. there were 6V but i had them converted.

Sat Apr 11, 2009 11:17 am

You can use a DC to DC Converter to power 12 V gauges in a 6 V system.

Sat Apr 11, 2009 3:27 pm

VDO head temp uses no electricity from the electrical system to work. Only the light in the gauge does.

VDO oil temp senders will work in 6 thru 24 volt flavor range. So all you need is a vintage 6 volt gauge that matches the same temp range as the sender used.

Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:44 pm

Great info. I'll be getting the VDO unit.
Next question: How hot is too hot?

Sun Apr 12, 2009 6:22 am

This is from Gene Berg... http://www.geneberg.com/cat.php?name=How%20to%20kn...;cPath=116

Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:10 pm

I installed VDO CHT unit and it works as advertised. I installed the gauge itself on the inside of my glove box with the face on the left wall.
How accurate are these gauges? I let my car idle for a few minutes and it was already at the 250 mark. I took it out on the highway and it got almost up to the 400 mark. The outside temp is 45F.

Anyone have a link with more info on VW operating temperatures?

Where should I put the red line?

Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:29 am

The Gene Berg GB227 Oil Temperature Dipstick is the best $20 you will ever spend.

Tue Apr 21, 2009 6:47 am

bruce jones wrote: The Gene Berg GB227 Oil Temperature Dipstick is the best $20 you will ever spend.

Bruce is absolutely correct.

Here is another link from Gene Berg you might find interesting.

http://www.geneberg.com/article.php?ArticleID=239

Tue Apr 21, 2009 7:32 am

Hmm, kinda wish I'd read that before I did the VDO setup.

Tue Apr 21, 2009 7:55 am

Go ahead with what you've got. I personally love gauges, but I think I know my engine well enough to rely on my gut feeling as to how it's performing. Gauges can be a good, just don't bet your engine's well being 100% on what your seeing.